A system for determining a gaze direction of a user is disclosed. The system may include a first illuminator, a first profile sensor, and at least one processor. The first illuminator may be configured to illuminate an eye of a user. The first profile sensor may be configured to detect light reflected by the eye of the user. The processor(s) may be configured to determine a gaze direction of the user based at least in part on light detected by the first profile sensor.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system for determining a gaze direction of a user, wherein the system comprises: a lens; a display device configured to be viewed through the lens, a hot mirror; a first illuminator configured to illuminate an eye of a user; an area image sensor arranged behind the display device and configured to detect light reflected by the eye of the user, wherein the area image sensor has a sensitive area having a total number of pixels characterized by a total number of rows and a total number of columns; and at least one processor configured to determine the gaze direction of the user based at least in part on light detected by the area image sensor; wherein determining the gaze direction of the user based at least in part on light detected by the area image sensor comprises: determining a location of a glint on the eye caused by light reflected by the eye of the user, based at least in part on a higher magnitude light level detected at one or more pixels of the area image sensor; wherein the step of determining the gaze direction of the user based at least in part on light detected by the area image sensor further comprises the steps of: determining magnitudes of light exposure at a subset of the total number of rows during one or more illumination periods; determining magnitudes of light exposure at a subset of the total number of columns during one or more illumination periods; based on the magnitudes of light exposure at the subset of the total number of rows and the magnitudes of light exposure at the subset of the total number of columns, identifying a subset of a total number of pixels of the area image sensor which include and surround the one or more pixels of the area image sensor which detected the higher magnitude light level; and analyzing only the subset of the total number of pixels of the area image sensor during a subsequent determination of gaze direction during a subsequent illumination period.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the hot mirror is a coating or film arranged atop the lens.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said the hot mirror is applied directly onto the lens.
4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said hot mirror is in a form of a separate piece.
5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the hot mirror is arranged on a side of the lens facing the user.
6. A system according to claim 1 , wherein an illuminator is arranged atop the hot mirror.
7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the illuminator is arranged atop the hot mirror via a separate piece of material such as glass or plastic.
8. A method for determining a gaze direction of a user, wherein the method comprises: displaying, through a lens, an image to the user by using a display device; at least in part preventing, light in the infrared spectrum emitted by the display device, from passing the lens by using a hot mirror illuminating an eye of a user; detecting, with an area image sensor arranged behind the display device, light reflected by the eye of the user, wherein the area image sensor has a sensitive area having a total number of pixels characterized by a total number of rows and a total number of columns; determining, with at least one processor, the gaze direction of the user based at least in part on light detected by the area image sensor; wherein determining the gaze direction of the user based at least in part on light detected by the area image sensor comprises: determining a location of a glint on the eye caused by light reflected by the eye of the user, based at least in part on a higher magnitude light level detected at one or more pixels of the area image sensor; wherein the step of determining the location of the glint on the eye caused by light reflected by the eye of the user, based at least in part on the higher magnitude light level detected at one or more pixels of the area image sensor further comprises the steps of: determining magnitudes of light exposure at a subset of the total number of rows during one or more illumination periods; determining magnitudes of light exposure at a subset of the total number of columns during one or more illumination periods; based on the magnitudes of light exposure at the subset of the total number of rows and the magnitudes of light exposure at the subset of the total number of columns, identifying a subset of a total number of pixels of the area image sensor which include and surround the one or more pixels of the area image sensor which detected the higher magnitude light level; and analyzing only the subset of the total number of pixels of the area image sensor during a subsequent determination of gaze direction during a subsequent illumination period.
9. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising a computer program adapted to perform the method according to claim 8 .
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 18, 2018
April 28, 2020
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